My Substack stories so far
An annotated bibliography of sorts
I’ve been publishing here since late 2022. Looking back, there are themes that tie my stories together, and ways of telling stories, that are constant but the genres are diverse, ranging from classic SciFi, to Noir, to light urban fantasy. Here is a guide to my stories so far, to help you find what you like.
Classic Science Fiction
What if we created an actual utopia in the far future? What if some people were desperately trying to flee it? This is part one of a cycle I am calling The Next One Thousand. I’ve started on part two, but it will be a while before it is ready.
Someone is watching us. They’re just passing through. For now…
Sometimes, you’re not what you think you are
Even in a post apocalyptic landscape, you’ve got a job to do. And maybe there’s even a bit of hope out there.
AI Futures
A cycle of stories that describe possible near futures in which AI plays various roles in society, some more obvious than others.
Doing your job is hard when no one wants you to do it.
Anton and The System are hot on the trail of a gang of clandestine analogue creators
Some people just want to use the AI systems for their own advantage. And some AI systems are in it for themselves.
After a while, it gets hard to tell what’s real and what’s AI.
Vintage Conspiracy
There are two main theories about Jack The Ripper. Either he could blend in comfortably in the Whitechapel morass, or he was an establishment figure with the power and resources to go undetected and unpunished. But what if it wasn’t or? What if is was and?
On the eve of the Great War, is anyone interested in purchasing the manuscript of a medieval prophecy that foretells it?
Do you really think no one at NASA was in charge of planning for a complete failure of the first Moon landing?
Not quite vintage yet, but, you know, an election is coming up, and some big players have some big plans.
Historical Noir
This retired journalist is back in his old neighbourhood, looking into why his life was upended fifty years ago.
In early Cold War days, what does a government do with a community in which kids are born knowing what their parents have learned? Also part of a 1948 Cycle on which I’m working.
Miscellaneous
Sort of a low-key Northern Folk Horror. First of my Black Spruce Harbour stories. There’s something out there, and it’s between you and the last plane out of this place before the winter hits.
When your Master is dying, word is this Desert Father can help. Maybe.
What happens when an archaeology team finds something that just shouldn’t be there?
Interplanetary conflicts can get complicated. When no one else can solve them, they end up at the Silly Solutions Bureau.
The first Corvino story. Part Scooby gang in 80s small-town New England, part Maltese Falcon, all mystery. The second Corvino is almost ready, by the way.